"We must educate our young people about the dangers of vaping, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their own health."
Timeline:
15 May 2024:
" I rise in support of the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 before the House, which is to amend the Commonwealth Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to prohibit the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of non-therapeutic and disposable vaping goods. I'm happy to do so as I'm horrified by the blatant marketing of vaping to our youth, especially in light of the advice from Australian Medical Association and other reputable health groups regarding the significant risk to the population's health"
Tracey Roberts Is Wrong, Here's Why:
Tracey Roberts MP’s speech in support of the vaping reforms is riddled with misinformation, flawed logic, and a misunderstanding of harm reduction principles. Below is a fact-based rebuttal, explaining why her arguments are incorrect.
1. “Vaping is a public health threat, particularly to youth.”
The Facts: The Real Public Health Crisis Is Smoking, Not Vaping
-
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, killing two out of three long-term users.
-
Public Health England, the NHS, and the Royal College of Physicians confirm that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
-
Cancer Research UK states that there is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer.
-
Banning vapes while keeping cigarettes widely available is not a public health strategy—it’s a failure in harm reduction policy.
2. “Let us address the misconception that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking.”
The Facts: Vaping Is the Best Alternative for Smokers Trying to Quit
-
Nobody claims vaping is completely harmless—but it is far safer than smoking, which is the key point of harm reduction.
-
Studies show that vaping is at least twice as effective as nicotine patches or gum in helping smokers quit.
-
Countries that regulate vaping properly (UK, New Zealand, Canada) have seen dramatic declines in smoking rates.
-
Prohibiting vapes makes it harder for smokers to quit, leading to increased cigarette sales and worse public health outcomes.
3. “Most e-cigarettes in Australia contain nicotine, even when packaging says they don’t.”
The Facts: Australia’s Black Market Exists Because of Poor Regulation
-
Illegal, unregulated vapes dominate the Australian market because the government has banned legal, regulated products.
-
If Australia had a properly regulated vape market like the UK or New Zealand, nicotine content and product safety could be properly controlled.
-
By banning vapes instead of regulating them, the government is fueling the very problem they claim to be fighting—youth accessing illegal, high-nicotine products.
4. “Vaping involves inhaling harmful chemicals, including poisons and heavy metals.”
The Facts: Vape Aerosols Contain Fewer Harmful Chemicals Than Cigarette Smoke
-
Cigarettes contain over 7,000 toxic chemicals, including tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens—none of which are present in significant quantities in regulated vapes.
-
Studies on chemicals in vapes often fail to compare them to cigarettes, where the levels of harmful substances are exponentially higher.
-
Many of the chemical concerns cited come from studies on poorly manufactured, illegal vapes, which would not exist if Australia had proper regulations.
-
Heavy metals like nickel and chromium only appear in low-quality black-market products—this would be solved with proper regulation.
5. “Vaping causes nicotine dependence, respiratory disease, severe burns, poisoning, seizures, and increased cigarette smoking.”
The Facts: The Majority of These Claims Are Misleading or Unfounded
-
Nicotine addiction itself is not inherently harmful—smoking is harmful due to tar, carbon monoxide, and combustion-related chemicals.
-
There is no strong evidence that vaping causes significant respiratory disease when compared to smoking.
-
Cases of severe burns or seizures from vaping are extremely rare and usually involve misuse, contaminated products, or pre-existing conditions.
-
Studies claiming vaping leads to smoking often fail to account for the fact that people who vape are already at higher risk of smoking.
6. “Flavored e-cigarettes are designed to entice youth into addiction.”
The Facts: Flavors Are Essential for Helping Adults Quit Smoking
-
Flavored vapes are not designed for children; they are critical for helping adult smokers quit cigarettes.
-
Studies show that most adult vapers prefer fruit and dessert flavors over tobacco flavors, as they help disassociate vaping from smoking.
-
Countries like the UK and New Zealand allow flavored vapes while enforcing strict age restrictions, successfully keeping youth vaping rates low.
-
Banning flavors makes vaping less appealing, increasing the likelihood that smokers will relapse to cigarettes.
7. “Nicotine addiction impairs brain development and is a gateway to smoking.”
The Facts: The “Gateway Theory” Has Been Largely Debunked
-
There is no strong evidence proving that vaping causes young people to start smoking.
-
Youth who try vaping are already at higher risk of smoking due to social and environmental factors.
-
In countries where vaping is regulated, youth smoking rates have continued to decline, showing that vaping is displacing smoking, not creating new smokers.
8. “The new ban on possession includes an exception for personal use, including young Australians.”
The Facts: Criminalizing Vape Supply While Allowing Possession Is Illogical
-
If vaping is so dangerous, why allow possession while banning supply?
-
Prohibition does not work in public health—it fuels black markets, making vapes even easier for young people to obtain.
-
Countries that regulate vapes properly have stronger enforcement against illegal sales, preventing youth access while maintaining harm reduction benefits for adults.
9. “The bill helps protect young Australians from the dangers of vaping.”
The Facts: The Best Way to Protect Youth Is Sensible Regulation, Not Prohibition
-
Strict age verification and retail regulations work better than outright bans.
-
The UK and New Zealand prevent youth access through proper enforcement and penalties for illegal sales.
-
Banning vapes will not stop youth vaping—it will only push young people toward unregulated, unsafe products.
10. “The government is fulfilling its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.”
The Facts: The WHO’s Approach Is Outdated and Ignores Harm Reduction Science
-
The WHO has taken an extreme anti-vaping stance that contradicts the positions of leading public health bodies like Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians.
-
Countries that have ignored WHO’s prohibitionist approach and instead regulated vaping (UK, New Zealand, Canada) have had better public health outcomes.
-
Australia’s restrictive policies have already led to one of the world’s largest black markets for vaping, proving that prohibition is not a viable solution.
A More Effective Approach
Tracey Roberts MP’s speech is based on misinformation, fear-mongering, and a misunderstanding of harm reduction science. Instead of doubling down on prohibitionist policies that have already failed, Australia should adopt a regulated, evidence-based vaping policy, similar to the UK and New Zealand where:
✅ Smoking rates continue to fall.
✅ Youth vaping is controlled through proper retail regulation.
✅ Black markets are minimized.
✅ Adult smokers have legal access to a harm reduction tool.
By banning legal vapes, the Australian government is driving people back to smoking, strengthening criminal networks, and failing to protect youth. A legal, regulated market is the real solution.